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An investigation of diurnal variability in wind and ocean currents off Huntington Beach, California

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited / In conjunction with the Huntington Beach Phase III Investigation, the diurnal variability in the wind and ocean currents from July 1 - October 12, 2001 over the San Pedro Shelf is investigated. Results suggest that the diurnal currents are driven by the diurnal winds but that the strength of the ocean response is modulated by the low frequency flow regime. The spectral peak of the near-surface currents is at the diurnal frequency, which is below the inertial frequency (1.107 cpd). The diurnal currents are surface-intensified, decaying with depth to a minimum at 10-13 m and increasing slightly in strength below that. The near-surface diurnal currents are in phase across the shelf, and are close to in phase with the winds over the shelf. The amplitude modulation of the diurnal energy of the ocean currents is correlated with the direction of the low frequency flow along the shelf;the energy is enhanced when the flow is equatorward, and weak when the flow is poleward. The amplitudes of the diurnal near-surface currents are also correlated with the diurnal winds. However, the low frequency currents and winds are not well correlated. / Lieutenant, United States Navy

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:nps.edu/oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/1057
Date03 1900
CreatorsTaylor, Kelly E.
ContributorsRosenfeld, Leslie K., Wash, Carlyle H., Meteorology and Oceanography
PublisherMonterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Source SetsNaval Postgraduate School
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatxvi, 88 p. : ill. (some col.), application/pdf
RightsThis publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. As such, it is in the public domain, and under the provisions of Title 17, United States Code, Section 105, may not be copyrighted.

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